With the season upon us, it’s time for my annual tour around the league. I’m going to pick out one subject for each team and say what it is that I’m looking for and why it’s important. At the end of the year I’ll look back and see what the results are.
Brandon Wheat Kings: How will Dave Lowry’s return to the WHL go?
It’s only been two seasons since Dave Lowry was last behind the bench of a WHL team so really, the league hasn’t changed much. That said, the team in front of Lowry sure has. After leaving Victoria, he’s not in the same city, the same division or heck, even in the same conference having arrived in Brandon. But will any of that matter? Lowry is a heck of a coach and we’ve seen his teams play strong defensively or pour on the attack depending on the quality of the roster he’s got. Lowry led Calgary to a division title and a trip to the WHL championship series. The Royals also won a division championship under Lowry. Can he work his magic again in Brandon?
Calgary Hitmen: Do the Hitmen have the best overage trio in the WHL?
Several teams have a strong group of 20-year-old players but I can make a pretty good argument that Calgary’s threesome is the best. You’ve got 6-foot-4, 215 pound Dakota Krebs on the blue line; a veteran defender that won’t lead the team in scoring, and won’t need to with Jett Woo and Egor Zamula around but he can chip in with 35-40 points. Then there is captain Mark Kastelic, the 6-foot-4 220 pound power forward that had 47 goals last year along with 122 PIMs – he can hurt the opposition in more ways than one. Finally, James Malm, who co-led the HItmen in scoring last year with Kastelic. Both forwards should challenge the 100-point plateau this year and therefore the be in the mix for the league scoring title.
Edmonton Oil Kings: Which goalie will they keep…and will it be the right choice?
There is a strong chance that the Oil Kings will begin the year with a three-headed goalie problem. Eventually someone will be dealt but it’s not an easy decision to make. Quite honestly, the goalie that seems the “safest” is 17-year-old Sebastian Cossa as the franchise wants him in the league this year so that he can be “the guy” in his 18-year-old season. Edmonton could opt to keep 20-year-old Dylan Myskiw, he was one of the top goalies in the conference last year and should be again this year. Or there is Todd Scott who is a year younger and might be ready to step into the role now just like Myskiw did last year. Maybe the market will determine which way the Oil Kings go.
Everett Silvertips: Where is the offence coming from?
I am guilty of always underestimating Everett. Having spoke with GM Gerry Davidson, I was left with the distinct impression that even he was wondering who exactly would lead the way for the Silvertips, especially up front. We know goaltending isn’t going to be an issue and Everett looks really strong on the blue line but the big losses from last year are among the forwards. Certainly Bryce Kindopp will be expected to have a big year but who else is going to help carry the load? Is Michal Gut going to need time to adjust? Everett might win a lot of low scoring, one-goal games.
Kamloops Blazers: OK…is Logan Stankoven for real?
He led the WHL preseason in scoring and I know that we need to take that with a huge grain of salt but still, Logan Stankoven has to be getting people excited in Kamloops. The home town kid isn’t big but he’s put up massive numbers to get to the WHL and should be one of the top producing 16-year-olds in the league. Perhaps we should temper expectations a little bit but man, I can already feel the buzz from a province away.
Kelowna Rockets: How much will change between now and January 10th?
The easy answer is probably “A LOT” as you know Kelowna will be actively trying to improve their Memorial Cup roster before the deadline. As I write this, they still have a trio of WHL caliber goalies so there’s a good starting point. Half of their blue line is revamped from last year so who really knows how they’ll perform as a unit to start the year? With Nolan Foote, Dillon Hamaliuk, Kyle Topping, Leif Mattson, Liam Kindree and rookie Trevor Wong, there is the making of a pretty good offensive attack but you can be sure that GM Bruce Hamilton will be on the prowl for more.
Lethbridge Hurricanes: Is the goaltending good enough?
The Canes were in a tough spot last season after Liam Hughes retired shortly after the trade deadline. Carl Tetachuk was forced into the starter’s job before he was ready for it and, in my opinion, it cost Lethbridge in the playoffs. That’s not his fault, that’s just the fact of where he was in his development. This year Tetachuk has company in 2017 second round pick Bryan Thomson. The question is valid though as there is virtually no WHL experience for the team to rely on and that could prompt GM Peter Anholt into action sooner as opposed to later. Or the kids step up and prove me wrong.
Medicine Hat Tigers: Is Mads Sogaard going to be the top goalie in the WHL?
The 6-foot-7 Dane was outstanding at times last year for the Tigers and with a season under his belt, Mads Sogaard should be expected to be in contention for top goalie in the league. I don’t want to suggest that one player can make or break a team but if Sogaard is that good, then Medicine Hat could challenge for the division crown.
Moose Jaw Warriors: Does Justin Almeida get sent back and if so, how long before the Warriors deal him?
Moose Jaw was all-in the last couple of years and taking a run at it comes at a cost. The Warriors are going to start feeling that this year and I think it’s fair to expect them to be sellers to try and speed up the rebuild process. That said, Justin Almeida is practicing but still recovering from off season shoulder surgery and, although he could head to the AHL when he’s ready, perhaps the Pittsburgh Penguins opt to return him to the WHL knowing that he’d be dealt to a contender. That would provide him ample time to continue his development without burning a year off of his entry level deal. Just a thought.
Portland Winterhawks: How high does Seth Jarvis go in the 2020 NHL Draft?
The speedy Seth Jarvis notched 16 goals and 39 points last year but how much will he bump those numbers up this season? I’m told he represented himself and Canada very well at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August because of his speed. Is it a strong enough asset for scouts to overlook a small 5-foot-10, 172 pound frame?
Prince Albert Raiders: How much of a title defence can the Raiders muster?
Yes the Raiders lose a lot from last year’s championship team, that happens for most squads that raise a banner, but there are still a lot of talented players returning to Prince Albert. In my preseason conversation with GM Curtis Hunt he was adamant that the objective for his team is to defend the title but he knows that’s setting the bar high. There’s a big question mark between the pipes but that blue line group still looks pretty nasty to go up against.
Prince George Cougars: Does Taylor Gauthier finish the year in PG?
The Cougars are the team I’m on record predicting to finish dead last in the WHL. The one area that I think the team can consider a strength is in net with Taylor Gauthier and 2018 first round selection Tyler Brennan. If the season goes sideways, as I think it will, and some teams look to shore up the goaltender position, does Taylor Gauthier not make sense as a trade target? Tell me Calgary doesn’t become a favorite if they upgrade in net by acquiring the Calgary native?
Red Deer Rebels: Who steps up for the Rebels?
The future looks bright, the present…not so much. What’s not to like about 6-foot-3 rookie Jayden Grubbe or freshmen defenders Joel Sexsmith and Kyle Masters? But we shouldn’t expect the world from rookies so it’s someone else that has to lead the way. Chris Douglas? Cam Hausinger? Brett Davis? Keaton Sorenson? Someone has to do it but I don’t know who it will be.
Regina Pats: Will a solid trio of 20-year-old forwards be enough for a playoff spot?
I’m a fan of Austin Pratt and of Robbie Holmes. I don’t have great insight into Dawson Holt since he played in the other conference but my gut feeling is that he’s underachieved to this point of his career. If all three click and end up leading this team as expected, that’s a good thing but will it be enough? Behind that threesome, there are no players taken inside the first three rounds of the Bantam draft save for Blake Allan. Draft position isn’t the be-all-end-all but it’s hard to succeed with a team full of late bloomers. My expectations aren’t high for the Pats this year but I’ve been wrong plenty of times before.
Saskatoon Blades: How much better will a motivated Nolan Meier be this year?
The Blades might be the favorites in their division, the conference and perhaps the entire league but to pull off that feat they are going to need top notch goaltending. Fortunately for them, they have Nolan Meier who is entering his third WHL campaign and is coming off a 36-10-6 season where he held a .910 save percentage and a 2.64 goals against average. Now consider that he’s got an extra fire in the belly having been overlooked by the NHL last June and ask yourself how much better Meier is going to be this year?
Seattle Thunderbirds: What does Roddy Ross do for an encore?
Goalie Roddy Ross was a fantastic story last year for the Thunderbirds. Listed and brought in by Seattle in early 2019, Ross was an instant hit. He only appeared in 25 games but he went 16-5-1 while posting a 2.76 goals against average and an impressive .919 save percentage. As a rookie. Despite the small sample size, the Philadelphia Flyers called his name during the sixth round of the draft, ahead of both Trent Miner and Dustin Wolf. The 6-foot-3 product of Meadow Lake, SK has set the bar high for himself this year; can he live up to expectations?
Spokane Chiefs: Is Ty Smith coming back or not?
There is a lot to like about the Spokane Chiefs whether or not they get their marquee player back from the NHL. That said, an excellent team can still benefit from a guy who would be, arguably, the best player in the league if Ty Smith does land back in Spokane. I asked someone close to New Jersey for his gut feel and he said he was leaning towards Smith being a full time Devil this year but only time will tell.
Swift Current Broncos: Would 20 wins this season be considered a success in Swift Current?
There were four teams that didn’t hit the 20-win plateau last year including the Broncos who were dead last having just 11 victories to their credit. 20 wins wouldn’t be enough to get into the playoffs but does anybody really think that Swift Current can get back to the dance so soon after empty the tank to win the league 18 months ago? I think that would be unfair so what if we set the bar at 20 games? Would twice the wins from last year be good enough?
Tri-City Americans: Is Sasha Mutala ready to switch to another gear?
Sasha Mutala had levels of success last year; he is coming off of a 20-goal campaign that ended with him being chosen in the fifth round by Colorado. Yet, I get the sense that even more was expected from him, at least judging by early 2019 Draft projections. Heading into his third WHL year means that Mutala is going to be counted on to play in a top-6 role and be one of the team’s top scorers. He has the ability now it’s up to him to realize that potential. 35 goals and 75 points?
Vancouver Giants: Which Tristen Nielsen will the Giants get this year?
I know that the status of Bowen Byram is the big story for the Giants but I’m going in a different direction because I think the defenceman will be back by November. Tristan Nielsen had 4 points on December 14th of last season but from January 12th through the end of the season he added 31 more points. If the Giants get the latter Nielsen right from opening night, he could be their top scorer. That’s saying something on a team with a lot of offensive weapons like Vancouver has.
Victoria Royals: Will the playoff streak continue or come to an end?
My guess is “YES”. The Royals haven’t missed the playoffs since arriving in Victoria from Chilliwack but they’ll be challenged this year to keep that streak alive. Gone is Griffin Outhouse who helped hide some weaknesses last year. Will Victoria be able to score enough? Will they be able to keep the puck out of their own net enough? In a division where there are three teams that, on paper, are clearly better, the Royals playoff streak is in jeopardy.
Winnipeg Ice: Who is the starting goaltender?
There are a lot of storylines to follow this year for the Ice; Peyton Krebs injury, recovery and return…a new city, new rink and new fanbase…the WHL arrival of 15-year-old phenom Matthew Savoie. But right now I have to be honest and say that the goalie situation in Winnipeg has me really guessing. With injuries to Jesse Makaj and Duncan McGovern, the Ice had to go out and find some help. They settled on Dean McNabb. Like Makaj and McGovern, McNabb has very little WHL experience (58 games) and his statistical numbers don’t suggest he has a future as a starter. What does Winnipeg do when all three are eventually able to play? Is the right answer still to be found elsewhere in the league?
Let me know what you think the answers to these 22 questions are. Hit me up on Twitter (@TPS_Guy) and we’ll see you at the rink. Enjoy another awesome season of WHL hockey!
